Postpartum Depressive Symptoms among Bangladeshi Women: A hospital-based cross-sectional study

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a severe mental condition that generally arises among women during the initial 12 months of post-delivery. Untreated PPD might be associated with negative outcomes for mothers, children, and families. The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms among women in the Khulna region of Bangladesh and identify its potential associated factors. Methods: A hospital-based quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Khulna, involving a sample size of 187 women who had given birth within the past 2-12 weeks. The sample was selected using a convenience sampling technique. The dependent variable chosen for the study was postpartum depression, which was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with a cutoff score of greater than 10. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and interdependent sample t-test were conducted to identify any mean differences of EPDS scores among sub-groups of independent variables along with binary logistic regression was done to identify the potential factors associated with increasing PPD where both univariate and multiple linear regression were done. Reliability of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was measured by using Cronbach’s alpha (0.890). Results: The overall prevalence of PPD was found 35.3%. The findings of this study reveal a significant association between PPD and various factors. Factors such as residing in urban areas, unemployment, having more than two children, dissatisfaction in marital relationships, a history of miscarriage, complications during pregnancy, exposure to stressful life events, unplanned pregnancy, experiencing post-delivery illness, difficulties with the baby's sleeping patterns, receiving minimal to occasional emotional support from family members, lack of family support for child care, and experiencing physical violence were identified as significantly risk factors related to PPD. Conclusion: This study reveals various factors associated with PPD that should be considered during the postpartum period of women. Based on the findings, the need for targeted interventions by healthcare providers and caregivers to support women during this critical phase of their lives is recommended. By addressing these factors, it is possible to improve the well-being of women and provide them with the necessary care during the postpartum period.